Xenocide (Ender's Saga #3)

by Orson Scott Card

“It was hard to make it funny,” said Valentine. “I caught myself denouncing him again and again.” “This is better.” “Oh, I know. If I had let my outrage show, if I had accused him of all his crimes, it would have made him seem more formidable and frightening and the Rule-of-law Faction would have loved him all the more, while the cowards on every world would have bowed to him even lower.” “If they bow any lower they’ll have to buy thinner carpets,” said Jakt.